Coin-controlled dispensing machine



May 8, 1923. L. M. EZELL COIN CONTROLLED DISPENSING MACHINE Filed June 14 3 Sheats-Sheet 3 510mm l f[ 526 Patented May 8, 1923.

UNITED STATES LEMUEL M. EZELL, OF NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE.

COIN-CONTROLLED DISPENSING MACHINE.

Application filed June 14, 1921.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEMUEL M. EznLL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Nashville, in the county of Davidson and State of Tennessee, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Coin- Controlled Dispensing Machines; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it a pertains, to make and use the same.

T is invention relates to an improved coincontrolled dispensing machine and one object of the invention is to provide a dispensing machine having improved com-controlled means for dispensing the articles to be sold and to so construct this dispensing means that it cannot be moved to expel an article without the proper coin or coins being inserted.

Another object of the invention 18 to so construct this coin-controlled mechanism that if more than one coin is to be inserted, the device will not operate until the proper number of coins have been put in place.

Another object of the invention is to so construct this device that if the proper num ber of coins or if the proper coin is not put in place, the device can be rotated and return the coins.

Another object of the invention is to provide a coin-controlled dispensing machine in which a disk having a finger extending for dispensing the article may be moved through the medium of a second disk and at the same time serve as means .to limit rotation of the second disk in one direction.

Another object of the invention is to so construct this machine that the coin-controlled mechanism and the dispensing mechanism may be mounted upon a single shaft.

Another object of the invention is to so construct this machine that it will be very compact in its construction and very easy to operate.

This invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view showing the improved machine in vertical section taken along the line 1-- 1 of Fig. 2.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 33 of Fig. 1.

Serial No. 477,542.

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. Figure 5 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 6-43 of Fig. 1 showin the coin-controlled mechanism in the coih-receiving position.

Figures 7 and 8 are similar views showing the coin-carrying disk turned in a direction for dispensing articles from the machine.

Figure 9 is a similar view showing the coin-controlled mechanism turned to return a coin to the operator of the machine.

Figure 10 is a face view of a disk limitmg rotation of the shaft in one direction.

Figure 11 is an edge view of the disk shown-in Fig. 10.

Figure 12 is a view showing the latching pawl in side elevation.

Figure 13 is a top plan view of the pawl shown in Fig. 12.

Figure 14 is a transverse sectional view through the pawl taken along the line 14 14 of Fig. 12.

Figure 15 is a view showing the dispensing disk in side elevation.

Figure 1G is an edge view of the disk shown in Fig. 15. This machine is provided with a housmg 1 having a forward compartment 2 which may be termed a coin compartment and a rear compartment 8 which extends above the coin compartment 2 and may be termed a merchandise compartment. A compartment 4 is located between the compartments 2 and 3 and will be termed a dispensing mechanism compartment. The merchandise compartment 3 is provided with an inclined bottom 5 which extends in spaced relation beneath the inclined bottom 6 of the coin compartment and dispensing mechanism compartment this providing a chute along which the merchandise will pass until stopped by upstanding ledge 7 at the lower forward end of the chute or bottom 5. Means for carrying the merchandise is mounted in the upper portion of the compartment 3 and is indicated in general by the numeral 8 and it is to be understood that the form shown or any suitable means for carrying the merchandise may be provided which will permit of the merchandise l being displaced one at a time and dropped down upon the inclined bottom 5.

A shaft 9 extends through the two compartments'2 and 4 and is rotatably mounted as shown in F ig. 1. This shaft is rectangular in cross section throughout the greater portion of its length but has its inner end portion circular in cross section so that the disk 10 may be loose upon this shaft 9 instead of being held against rotation as is the diskll which is provided with a rectangular opening and mounted upon the rectangular portion of the shaft 9. Springs 12- and 13 are provided about the shaft 9 between the disks 10 and 11 and walls or partitions 14 and 15. These springs are connected with the partitions 14c and 15 and with the disks and will serve to retain the disks and shaftin a normal position as will be hereinafter brought out. It should be noted that the spring 12 is stronger than the spring 13 and further that these springs will be wound in opposite directions for a purpose to be hereinafter brought out. The disk 10 is provided with an elongated finger extension 16 which extends through a slot 17 in the partition 14 for dispensing the merchandise and the disk 11 is provided with a tongue extension 18 which will extend across the cut away portion 19 of the disk 10 and through engagement with the finger 16 and shoulder 20, serve to limit rotation of the disk 11, as will'be hereinafter brought out.

Within the coin compartment 2 there has been provided spaced plates 21 having openings formed therein to receive the hubs 22 of the disks 23. These disks are mounted upon the shaft 9 and rotate with the shaft when the shaft is turned by means of the handle 2@. A disk 25 which is of slightly less diameter than the disks 23 is positioned between these disks and the three disks 23 and 25 are rigidly connected thus providing a wheel having an annular groove. The disks 23 are provided with alined notches 26 and the disk 25 is cut from its periphery to provide a coin receiving pocket 27 positioned to one side of the notches 26 as shown in Fig. 6. In order to control rotation of the wheel there has been provided a pawl 28 which is pivotally mounted between the plates 21 and is provided with a tooth extension 29 for engaging the edges of the disks 23 and fitting into the notches 26. This pawl is further provided with a lug 30 which extends between the disks 23 into the annular groove of the wheel and rest against the periphery of the d1sk 25. This lug has its end out upon the arc of a circle sothat it will fit in close contact with the periphery of the disk 25. lit

.should be noted that the lug is of such a size that it may enter the coin pocket 27 if no coin is in place and thus permit the tooth 29 to pass down into the notches 26 and thus prevent the wheel from being rotated toward mergers the right in Fig. 6 beyond a desired amount. When however a coin is passed through the coin passage 31 formed in the cover plate 32 and passes through the cutout 33 of the pawl 28 down into the coin pocket, the coin will be engaged by this lug 30 as shown in Fig. 7 and the wheel may be rotated from the position of Fig. 6 past the position of Fig. 7 to the position of Fig. 8. Wren in this position, the coin will roll out of the coin pocket and will drop down into the bottom of the coin compartment 2 to one side of the partition 34 provided in this coin compartment. The coins will be treated in this coin compartment until removed by opening a the right,'t-he side finger 18 of the disk 11 through engagement with the disk 10 at the side finger 16 will rotate the disk 10 and the finger 16 through engaging the lower article of merchandise will push this article ofi of the support so that it will drop down upon the inclined bottom of the merchandise compartment. The merchandise will then slide along this inclined bottom or chute 5 and will be prevented from falling down upon the ground by the upstanding ledge 7. Since'the finger 16 passes through slot 17, the shaft can only be rotated as far as shown in Fig. 8 and therefore there is no danger of the shaft being turned beyond a. desired amount. lVhen the handle is released. the spring 12 by acting upon the disk 10 rotates this disk and since the disk is engaged by the finger or tongue extension 13, the shaft is rotated in a reverse direction and the mechanism returned to the normal position. If it is attempted to operate this machine without first placing a coin in the slot, the pawl 28 which is held in engagement with the wheel by the spring 35 will pass down into the notches 26 and the wheel will prevent the shaft frombeing rotated a sufficient amount to displace the merchandise. lit will be further: seen that if the merchandise is to be sold at a price which would require more than one coin, a suitable number of wheels formed of the disks 23 and 25 will be provided and a separate coin slot formed for each wheel. In this modification, placing a single coin in one of the slots would not permit the merchandise to be dispensed, since the pawl for the wheel which did not have a coin in its coin pocket 2? would move to extend its tooth 29 into the notches 26 Cal actate t e slot or not enough coins are placed in the slots of the multiple coin type of machine, the coin or coins can be recovered by returning the shaft to the left in Fig. 6 so that the wheel will be turned to the position shown in Fig. 9. In this position, the coin will drop out of the coin pocket and will fall down into the coin compartment upon the opposite side of the partition 34 from the coins which have been dropped into the coin compartment when the wheel was in the position shown in Fig. 8. From an 1nspection of Figs. 8 and 9, it will be seen that this side of the coin compartment has its bottom 6 provided with a cutout or opening 36 thus permitting the coin to pass down onto the chute 5 along which it may slide 'to the upstanding ledge 7. After the coin has been returned, the handle can be released and the spring 13 will return the disk 11 and shaft to the normal position. It will thus be seen that with this construction, the merchandisecan be readily dispensed when the proper coin is put in place but that the merchandise cannot be dispensed without the proper coin being put in place. 'It will be further noted that merchandise of any value may be dispensed with this machine, it simply being necessary to provide a suiiicient number of wheels and coin slots to accommodate coins of the rlght amount.

I claim:

1. A coin-controlled dispensing machine including a housing having a coin slot, dispensing means including a rotatable operating shaft, a wheelrigidly mounted upon the shaft and beneath the coin slot and provided with an annually extending peripheral groove and a coin pocket in the bottom of the groove, the peripheral face being provided with notches upon opposite sides of the groove and in spaced relation to the coin pocket, and a spring-pressed pawl pivotally mounted adjacent said wheel and extending circumferentially thereof and having its free end portion provided with a tooth extension for fitting into said notches to lock the wheel against rotation in one direction, the pawl being further provided with a lug entering the peripheral groove of said wheel and engaging the bottom thereof and adapted to move into the coin pocket when empty and permit the tooth extension of the pawl to enter said notches.

2. A coin-controlled dispensing machine including a housing having a coin slot, dispensing means including a rotatable operating shaft, bearing plates in said housing, a wheel positioned between the bearing plates anclhaving side disks, provided with hub extensions journalled in the bearing plates and an intermediate disk secured between the side disks and of less diameter than the side disks the intermediate disk being cut from its periphery to provide a coin .pocket and the side disks being cut to provide notches, and a spring-pressed pawl pivotally mounted between said bearing plates and having a tooth extension engaging the peripheries of said side disks and a lug extension engaging the periphery of the intermediate disk and entering the coin pocket when unoccupied by a coin to move the tooth extension into the notches to lock the wheel and shaft carrying the same against rotation in one direction.

' 3. A coin-controlled dispensing machine comprising a housing having partitions therein divldmg the housings into a coin compartment, and armerchandise compartment having an outlet chute at its lower end extending beneath the coin compartment, an operating shaft extending through the coin compartment, dispening means actuated by said shaft for expelling merchandise when the shaft is rotated in one direction, coin controlled means in the coin compartment normally locking the shaft against rotation in a direction to dispense merchandise and including a coin-carrying wheel mounted upon said shaft, and a partition in the coin compartment beneath the wheel, the bottom of the coin compartment to one side of the partition being provided with a coin passage permitting coins dropped from the wheel upon the said side of said partition to pass down upon the chute leading from the merchandise compartment to be returned to the operator when the shaft In hand.

y LEMUEL M. EZELL. 

